"How did Syria's revolution lose its way? Using her first-hand knowledge of the country’s complex religious and ethnic communities, Diana Darke illuminates the darker recesses of Syria's history, politics, and society. A fluent Arabic speaker, she become deeply embedded in all levels of Syrian society when she bought and restored a house in a mixed Sunni/Shi’a neighbourhood of the walled Old City of Damascus. As fighting intensified and millions were forced to flee their homes, she offered her house as a sanctuary to friends. By following her experiences and struggles with the realities of life on the ground inside Syria, the reader will arrive at a clearer understanding of why the country remains locked in conflict and why most ordinary Syrians are caught between a repressive government and a splintering opposition, now overshadowed by a monster called ISIS." -- Back cover,